Southwest Customers of Size

[jultomzach]

I have to disagree that everybody has something that protudes into somebody else's space. I have flown many times to Floriday. I have never had anybody protrude onto my space. I have flown with some large people but it takes an extra large person to spill over. However, I flew on a flight with my sister that the woman beside her was SO LARGE that she took up 1/2 of my sister's seat. My sister paid for a seat and could not use all of it and worse yet ended up with back problems trying to fit in the 1/2 seat that she had. It was a USAir flight and it was miserable. Whoever pays for the seat should get full use of it. So if your butt does not fit in the seat you should pay for 2 seats. There are other situations where people protrude into others seats and that should be looked at also but that doesn't change the fact that your butt takes up 1 seat and some of somebody else's seat.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Whoever pays for the seat should get full use of it So if your butt does not fit in the seat you should pay for 2 seats. There are other situations where people protrude into others seats and that should be looked at also but that doesn't change the fact that your butt takes up 1 seat and some of somebody else's seat.

That's right. That's what Southwest says, that's what Congress says, that's what the Department of Transportation says (again, quoting from Southwest's Customer of Size question & answer page http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/cos_qa.html) "The Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) preceded the ADA, and Congress excluded air carriers and other air transportation services from the scope of ADA. As regulated under 14 CFR §382.38 Seating accommodations (i) "Carriers are not required to furnish more than one seat per ticket or to provide a seat in a class of service other than the one the passenger has purchased." "

 

[seashoreCM]

My comments Are just My comments and explanations but you still get to argue with the airline.
This time I will let you go through this thread to find them.

 

[inkkognito]

The airline cannot expect you to twist or reposition your shoulders so the person next to you can protrude into your seat but the airline can insist that you move including switch places with the broad-chested man in order to correct the problem.

It would have been interesting to see how it would have been handled if anyone had complained. On SW, I suspect that someone who boarded early specifically to get their seat preference might not be too likely to cooperate for someone who boarded later, even if there is a physical reason (I'm a window person myself, but I've noticed that aisle people tend to be quite possessive). As it was, neither I nor the person on the other side minded (it was only a two hour flight), so thankfully there was no "air rage" situation. We all just got to know each other a little better.

Barb

 

[eileenkeeney]

I think that it would be completely fair to require the person to purchase 2 seats, or maybe 1.5 seats.
Perhaps there should be an option to buy 1.5 seats.
Since large people are not that rare, there is a reasonable probability that another person will also need 1.5 seats.
One would have to be willing to not pick their seat.
Or maybe, the airlines will start selling an oversized seat, where one gets a larger seat, in last class (rather than only having larger seats in 1st class).
Maybe this seat would cost slightly more than a smaller seat in last class, but less than 1st class.
People are not only getting fatter, they are also getting taller; therefore not needing to be as obese to have trouble fitting in the seat.

As fuel gets more expensive, the airlines will probably start charging by some combination of per seat plus weight.
Both are factors that determine the cost to the airline.
Weight effects fuel consumption more than many people may realize.

 

[Lewisc]

Although that suggestion makes logical sense weighing passengers would probably not be good for business. Even passengers that aren't that overweight may not be willing to get on the scale.

I could see them starting to weigh carry on bags. Some of the charter flights have very low weight limits for luggage and some even include carry on luggage in their limits.

As fuel gets more expensive, the airlines will probably start charging by some combination of per seat plus weight.
Both are factors that determine the cost to the airline.
Weight effects fuel consumption more than many people may realize.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I think that it would be completely fair to require the person to purchase 2 seats, or maybe 1.5 seats.
Perhaps there should be an option to buy 1.5 seats.
Since large people are not that rare, there is a reasonable probability that another person will also need 1.5 seats.
One would have to be willing to not pick their seat.
Or maybe, the airlines will start selling an oversized seat, where one gets a larger seat, in last class (rather than only having larger seats in 1st class).
Maybe this seat would cost slightly more than a smaller seat in last class, but less than 1st class.

Not in Southwest's case. Their Customer of Size Q & A page http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/cos_qa.html addresses these issues as well:
"Why can't two large Customers share their second seat?
Open seating cannot guarantee that there will be an entire row open for two Customers to sit together and share the middle seat on each leg of the trip. "
"Why not make your seats wider or add a few wide seats on your aircraft?
Our ongoing goal is to operate a low-fare, low cost airline, and the costs of reconfiguring our fleet would be staggering and would ultimately reflect in the form of higher fares for our Customers. Purchasing two seats on Southwest Airlines is significantly less expensive than purchasing one first class seat on another airline. "

I guess pretty much any argument we can think of, Southwest already has and addresses.
I'm not saying I agree or disagree with the policy. I generally choose not to fly Southwest for reasons of convenience, NOT because of any of their policies.

 

[disneyldwjr]

That is my point exactly. No matter what size we are there is always one part of someone that touches you. Even is first class on some of the smaller planes you have the chance of some parts coming near you or into your area.
It is not just the 17" for the butt area but the tightness across the chest and shoulder spans.

I do beg to differ on this one. I manage to sit quite comfortably in SWA seats and my s/o does too and we never touch (unless we want to. )
We are not little people ( I am 5'7" and weigh about 135, he is 6' and weighs about 185). We seem to have plenty of butt, shoulder, stomach and leg room.
I have a HUGE issue with flying "cheek to cheek" with someone I do not know.
Shoulders and arms can be moved to one side, bottoms cannot.

 

[disneyldwjr]

I guess in that case, we can just switch people around so that everyone fits properly. My point in and has been that everyone has some type of problem that protrudes into others space. aw:

Not everyone.

 

[Princess Patti]

I still don't agree that shoulders can be adjusted. I see some really big guys with hugh shoulders and they are leaning on others in the next seat. There is no place for any adjustments whatsoever.

 

[mickeyfan2]

I kind of view this policy like smoking on planes. The smoke bothered others who paid for tickets, so they stopped it. Now I know that they did not have to buy another seat, so there is a difference, but we need to give every customer what they paid for. I guess a "large" person could fit in one seat in first class (another airline), but that would be more than the price of two SWA seats.

 

[heathriel]

As I mentioned earlier in the thread, America West upgrades to first class are $150 on the day of the flight. You risk none being available, of course, but their seats are very large.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Just because guys with huge shoulders are leaning on others in adjacent seats doesn't mean they must do so. The passenger/s on whom they're leaning need to be assertive, but it IS possible to adjust one's torso from the waist up. It's NOT possible to do this with the portion of one's body that sits IN the seat, and THIS is the reason for Southwest's EXTREMELY reasonable and sensible policy.

I don't think I need two seats. If Southwest thinks I do, and it turns out I do, everybody will be more comfortable. And a comfortable passenger is a happy - and repeat - passenger.

 

[Princess Patti]

After days of reading through the debates, I decided to call SWA and book the extra seat for the boyfriends and there was no room on the plane. The agent told me that we would just have to make do and sit next to someone that was not as big.

Go figure. What they are printing and saying is just to their benefit.

 

[seashoreCM]

After days of reading through the debates, I decided to call SWA and book the extra seat for the boyfriends and there was no room on the plane. The agent told me that we would just have to make do and sit next to someone that was not as big..

Call again and get the name of the person you talked to and also write down the fare at that moment.

If you are cornered at the airport and told to buy another seat (because a seat became available) you should not have to pay more because it is day of departure.

 

[Princess Patti]

There are absolutely no seats available for the flight. So what do they do now, deny boarding.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Okay, I had to scan the CoS policy a few times but I found it: "How do I qualify for and request a refund of the additional seat purchase?
As long as the flight does not oversell (having more confirmed Customers waiting to board an aircraft than seats on the aircraft), we will refund the additional seat purchase after travel. A Refund Advice Slip, a guide for conveniently requesting refunds (via telephone or letter), is provided to the Customer of size at checkin. And, if it appears a flight will oversell, the option to purchase a second seat and travel on a less full flight is available."

Now, this is just me brainstorming (and not claiming my brain is the best one to heed ) but what you MIGHT want to do is check in online exactly 24 hours before your flight - Southwest allows that now. This will give you "A" boarding passes. Then still get to the airport 90 minutes to two hours early. Southwest supposedly routinely oversells their flights by as much as 20% because their experience averages that many no-shows, changes, cancellations, etc (more if you believe the show "Airline"). Anyway... by arriving early and being among the first to board, you virtually assure yourselves of being on that flight. Others would more likely be bumped, with incentive, IF your companions actually end up needing extra seats. I'm not guaranteeing that I'm right, of course - it's usually more cost-effective for me NOT to fly Southwest (gas and parking, nothing to do with extra seats).

 

[ducklite]

After days of reading through the debates, I decided to call SWA and book the extra seat for the boyfriends and there was no room on the plane. The agent told me that we would just have to make do and sit next to someone that was not as big.

Go figure. What they are printing and saying is just to their benefit.

So why should he have the right to hang over into the space someone else paid for. I take up about 2/3 of my plane seat. Doesn't mean I'm willing to donate the additional 1/3 to anyone. It's my space, I paid for it, and I like to wiggle around alot while flying, so yes, I'm going to use it.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

There are absolutely no seats available for the flight. So what do they do now, deny boarding.

Yes. They will first ask for volunteers, but they will not deny boarding to anyone involuntarily to accomodate your boyfriend. You will have to take the next flight with available seats.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

I guess in that case, we can just switch people around so that everyone fits properly. My point in and has been that everyone has some type of problem that protrudes into others space. aw:

Totally incorrect. I do not have any type of "problem" that protrudes into another's space, nor do my DH and DS, both of whom are 6'.

Anne